The racial composition of the juvenile population in 1997 was approximately 80% white, 15% black, and 5% other races, with juveniles of Hispanic ethnicity being classified as white. In 1997, in contrast to the proportions in the general population, 53% of juvenile arrests for violent crimes involved white youth and 44% involved black youth.

Most Serious Offense

White Proportion of
Juvenile Arrests in 1997

Murder

40%

Forcible rape

56

Robbery

42

Aggravated assault

60

Burglary

73

Larceny-theft

70

Motor vehicle theft

59

Weapons

64

Drug abuse violations

64

Curfew and loitering

75

Runaways

77

Data source:Crime in the United States 1997, table 43.

The growth in juvenile Violent Crime Index arrest rates between 1987 and 1994 was far greater for females than for males, while the decline in rates after 1994 was less for females than males

Between 1981 and 1994, the female violent crime arrest rate increased twice as much as the male rate (130% vs. 64%). Even with the recent declines, the female violent crime arrest rate in 1997 was 103% above the 1981 rate, while the male arrest rate was 27% above its 1981 level.

Even with the large increase in female rates, the 1997 Violent Crime Index
arrest rate for juvenile males was five times the female arrest rate.

Data source: Analysis of arrest data from the FBI and population data from the U.S. Bureau
of the Census. [See data source note 1 for detail.]